Unexpected Wager (1)
"That Deculein doesn't have much time left."
Ruina said. The space sank into silence, and Ifrin stared at her in a daze.
Weeeeng——
The wood iron vibrated as if telling her to snap out of it. Ifrin's shoulders twitched.
"……You said he doesn't have much time left↗?"
Her voice cracked. It was due to her vocal cords tightening from excessive tension.
"……."
Ruina glanced around. She'd already checked with magic before speaking, just in case any prying eyes had appeared.
"I'm guessing it's something like an incurable disease."
Ifrin's mouth fell open as if it might touch the ground. Ruina continued with a bitter smile.
"It's not certain. But for a person to change, there needs to be a big reason."
"……."
Ruina said it wasn't certain, but Ifrin already knew.
She still remembered.
The words that future Ifrin had left her.
"Hee hee."
Suddenly, Ruina chuckled as if finding her cute.
"You're tearing up. Like a baby."
"Eh? N-no, I'm not crying. Who said I'm crying……."
Ruina silently pointed to Ifrin's under-eye area. Ifrin wiped it with her finger.
It was wet.
"Whoa! What the—!"
Her whole body sprang up like a coil. Ruina jumped in surprise at the over-the-top reaction.
"Whoa, you scared me. Why so jumpy?"
"Uh…… um…… I guess I was yawning just now?"
Ruina smirked mischievously. Ifrin stiffened her expression rigidly and fidgeted with her fingers as she spoke.
"It's not really like that. Even if the Professor really has some big illness……."
Ifrin's cheeks puffed out. Like a deflated pufferfish.
"I think it's karma."
"Karma?"
Ruina asked back. Ifrin grumbled curtly.
"……He did so many bad things before."
"Huh? You know what Deculein did?"
"……."
Ifrin nodded quietly.
While investigating her father's whereabouts across the Magic Tower and Floating Island, she'd heard a lot of information and rumors. Among them were violent instigations, bullying commoners, plagiarizing papers, and so on…… unbelievably vicious acts.
Ruina nodded too.
"Yeah. Deculein wasn't normal. Especially back in the Academy days, I wondered if he was even human."
"Academy?"
"Yeah. The Academy is way more bound by family and status than the Magic Tower."
Recalling that time, Ruina's face paled. Ifrin thought about it briefly, and it was scary just imagining it.
The current Deculein's personality ruling with pure malice. How terrifying must it have been for commoners in the same Academy.
"I had a pretty bad history with him too…… but now I think it doesn't matter. I've gotten some help from Deculein in my own way, and more than that, it's like it was forgotten before I could even forget it."
"……."
"But I'm still curious. How his magical prowess advanced to this level. They say he's the empire's seventh strongest or whatever? Doesn't seem right, but this stone seems like Deculein made it himself."
Ifrin, for some reason, felt like she knew why.
Rohakan had once said.
That as a mage nears the end of their life, they get opportunities to realize truths. A perfectly natural phenomenon because the human soul draws closer to 'mana' than the earth.
"Oh my. Time's up already."
Ruina checked her watch and stood. She smiled brightly and said,
"What I just said is a secret, okay?"
"Ah, yes, of course. Where are you off to now?"
"Yeah. The project check is still ongoing. Still stuff to teach the little ones. I'm pretty worried."
Ifrin nodded.
This professor calls her disciples 'babies.' It's kinda cringy but warm.
"Yes. Take care. And speak casually."
"Nah. You're Deculein's disciple, so I gotta treat you right. Anyway, Assistant Ifrin, keep at it!"
She made a fist pump, winked, and left with dignified steps.
Her back looked like a cool adult.
Someday when I get a disciple, I should do that too.
"……You stay put."
Ifrin poked the wood iron that had been resonating in her arms since earlier. Its vibration cut off with a wing—, but
Weeeeeeng——!
It soon returned as an even louder hum, tickling Ifrin.
"Ack, ah, hey, stop! Aaaah!"
* * *
Today's deputy director duties ended with thirteen teams.
To summarize the results: four teams passed, five had budgets cut, the rest rejected outright.
But I gave sufficient alternatives, so they'll revise and return if they can. If not, they lack the qualifications and ability to proceed.
"I'm leaving."
"Ah, yessir!"
As I stood, Allen, who was gathering reports, straightened up.
"Take careee! I'll finish all this!"
Her cheerful shout from the pile of papers looked pitiful for some reason.
I nodded and opened the office door.
But.
"……."
Ifrin stood just beyond the threshold.
"……."
She looked up at me in surprise. She gulped, stared for a long while, then grinned broadly.
No, it was too eerie for a smile. More like a facial twitch.
"A-are you leaving? Haha, hahaha."
"Step aside."
"Ah, yes."
Ifrin stepped back. I passed her.
"T-take care…… Professor."
A strangely wistful voice drifted from behind. My brow furrowed naturally. I turned and glared at Ifrin.
"……."
She just bowed her head politely.
It was an annoying reaction I didn't want to deal with.
"W-well, bye!"
Even the farewell was weird. I ignored it, took the elevator straight to the parking lot.
Roy, waiting, opened the car door.
"Straight to the manor?"
"Yes."
I got in the back seat. At that moment, the radio in my pocket buzzed with static.
Al Ross's voice after a long time.
This was a literal 'radio' transmission. Crystal orbs risked eavesdropping by the Altar, so I commissioned a hardware store to make these radios.
"No matter. Handle it properly."
—Understood.
I cut the transmission. I leaned back in the seat briefly, then tested the newly acquired Duct Tape.
"Hm."
Mana emanated from my fingertips, coalescing like tape. Exactly like the duct tape from the modern world.
Proficiency: 0%
The visible proficiency was naturally 0%. But I had plenty of ways to raise it quickly.
Practical training.
And the method was simple.
Just pick one person and…….
…….
"Ah, I can't move! My body won't move!"
I called Yeriel, who was lounging at the manor. She'd come up from the capital last night for work.
"Let me down! Stop messing around!"
Anyway, using 'magic instruction' as an excuse, I started practical training, and the result was.
"Let me down!"
Yeriel was taped up like a cocoon, stuck to the surface of a large tree in the garden.
I asked calmly.
"Can't break free?"
"Argh!"
Yeriel's face turned beet red as she trembled furiously.
Five minutes ago, she'd followed me like a happy puppy.
"Grrrrr——"
Her efforts were loud, but that was it. No matter how hard she strained, the tape's restraint didn't budge, and scattering mana or spells didn't faze Duct Tape at all.
Even against Yeriel, one of its functions—'binding'—was proven solid.
Snap!
I flicked my fingers to release her.
"Ack!"
The tape vanished instantly, and Yeriel clinging to the tree thudded to the ground.
Covered in grass and dirt, she jumped up and glared at me.
"God, why are you like this lately?!"
Her screech made me mischievous for no reason.
"Can't even handle this level."
"What?"
"When do you plan to grow up."
"……What'd you say."
Yeriel shot me a bratty glare, picked up her scattered pouch nearby, and pulled out a document.
"Whatever! Take this."
"……."
I took it wordlessly.
[Formal divorce agreement between House Yukline and House Phairden]
The title alone felt somewhat uncomfortable.
"What's with the face? Not gonna divorce?"
Yeriel asked. I didn't answer.
"No real downsides for either side. Nah, it's only bad for us. They agreed to call it even for all the Yukline support to Phairden so far."
"……."
I nodded slowly.
Then, it was right to let go to some extent.
For Julie's sake, and for mine.
"……Means you're divorcing?"
The only way Julie could live now was by hating Deculein.
Hating him enough to kill.
Even if I found a way to heal her someday, it was still far off.
"Yes."
* * *
Deculein's test—the so-called 'move the stone.'
That simple trial had reached its fourth day.
And finally, the first passer appeared.
"Yesss—!"
As expected, Roserio.
True to her talents concentrated in ore, earth, fusion, and manipulation, she was the first to understand and accept Deculein's theory, finally succeeding in moving the Magic Resistance Stone.
"See! I did it!"
Roserio placed the stone on her palm. It hummed and floated up. At the same time, every object in the main plaza lifted with a whoosh.
Gravity Zone, ten levels nobler than mere Telekinesis. A reality-interference manipulation where the caster arbitrarily controls nearby gravity—the pinnacle of 'manipulation' magic.
The result of applying Deculein's theory to that high-level spell.
"Kuhahaha—! I'm off! Uhahaha—!"
"……."
Everyone, including Ifrin, watched Roserio enviously as she left the main hall to brag to Deculein and the entire Floating Island.
"Sigh…… Huh?"
Sighing, Ifrin spotted Kreto standing.
"Where are you going, Mage Kreto?"
"Hm? Ah. Thinking of visiting my sister today."
"……."
Everyone fell silent at his words.
Kreto's sister was none other than Emperor Sophien.
Ifrin felt his status anew.
"Y-yes. Have a good trip."
"Yeah. You too, Ipari. Keep at it."
"……Yes."
Ipari. All the senior mages called her that lately.
All because of Ihelm.
Ifrin grumbled and infused mana into her stone again.
"What the heck……."
This stone was like a black hole—no matter how much mana she poured in, no change.
It didn't bounce out, nor did the spell activate.
As if the stone annihilated all mana or something.
"……."
Ifrin glanced at the wood iron on the desk.
"……Not you?"
As she asked, it made a pathetic puhuhu sound, like it was mocking her.
"Who're you mocking."
Ifrin glared at the wood iron and sighed.
"Sigh."
"Ipari. Check this out."
Someone called her then. Drent.
Ifrin whipped around and glared.
"Ugh. Just say Ipari. What's Ipal now."
"Hahaha. Sorry. This sticks better. 282."
"Ah. Stop, seriously."
"Got it. Sorry sorry. Look at this. I think I found something——"
I think I found something…….
I think I found something…….
I think I found something…….
His voice echoed like a reverberation. Sudden dizziness invaded her head, and Ifrin blankly closed her eyes.
"Ah, anemia……."
Rubbing her temples, she opened her eyes again.
"……What."
The world had flipped. She was clearly in the main plaza hall, but suddenly in some ruin—
"Stupid Ifrin."
A familiar voice called her. Ifrin startled and turned.
"Move, Ifrin. Why are you here."
Ruins corridor. In the dark shadow, Sylvia stood. Ifrin's face paled at the sight.
"……You! What happened to you?!"
Covered in gashes bleeding profusely. Hair a tangled mess, and her right index and middle fingers looked gnawed off by something…….
"Hurry and go. You might end up like this too."
"Why—"
She knew the reason the moment she asked.
It was at the far end of the ruined corridor.
Grrrrrrrrr——!
A low subsonic growl, fierce like a volcano.
"……!"
In the dark corridor, a distinctly alien crimson body.
Compressed muscle, majestic frame. A clear king glyph on its forehead.
The beast dominating the area, exuding majesty and dignity.
A tiger.
"T-ti-ti-ti……."
Facing a 'real' beast for the first time in her life.
Ifrin felt suffocated. The savage pressure crushed her body.
"Idiot. Do what you want if you wanna die."
Tat tat tat tat—!
Sylvia fled quickly, and Ifrin followed belatedly.
"Wait! Together, together!"
* * *
Meanwhile, at the Imperial Palace Kreto visited after so long. After meeting Sophien, he recommended Deculein's 'Theory Summary' first.
"You must master this theory to move the stone."
"Hm. Seems trivial."
"No. Moving the stone is incredibly hard. That's why they're watching on the Floating Island."
"Is that so."
Sophien replied indifferently.
In truth, she already knew. Red-furred munchkin. She'd often watched via possession body meowing by Kreto even now.
"But Your Majesty. Your outfit today is unusual."
"A gift from Yuren. Gotta wear it to save their face."
Today's emperor wore trendy modern clothes popular in Yuren. Blue pants and a buttoned blouse.
Kreto nodded and said,
"Anyway. Professor Deculein is a proper figure. Talent to make the continent great. Fits the 'Great Continent' slogan perfectly. Heh heh."
"……You've come after ages, and it's all Deculein talk."
Sophien was a bit dissatisfied. This cute little brother wasn't getting cuter as he grew.
"What else is there to say. So, about that……."
Ahem—!
Kreto cleared his throat and pulled out a stone.
"This……."
"You came here to cheat?"
"Hey. Why say it like that. Not cheating, just seeking advice from my beloved Majesty."
"……Tch. Smooth talker."
Still, hearing 'beloved' improved her mood a bit.
"Let me see."
Sophien pretended to read Deculein's theory, then cast Telekinesis on the stone.
Clack—! The stone rolled.
"Oh! Ooh! As expected! Truly Your Majesty!"
"Easy."
In truth, she'd studied via possession body already, but acted like first try. Like zero effort.
Kreto, face full of awe, said,
"Then the secret to me too!"
"Enough. Kreto."
"Yes?"
"……Any word from that guy?"
"That guy? Professor Deculein?"
Kreto asked innocently. Sophien nodded.
"Yes."
"Why call Professor Deculein 'that guy'."
Sophien sighed softly at Kreto's point.
"……Before you anger me."
"Ah yes. What words?"
"About me."
"……?"
To the baffled Kreto, Sophien said with a sigh,
"Seems like that guy is smitten with me."
"……What? Heh."
Kreto chuckled blankly.
"Heh heh heh heh. Heh heh heh……."
The laugh turned to mockery. Sophien's blood pressure spiked briefly, but she held it.
"Your Majesty. Didn't want to say this, but are you ill lately?"
"What the hell? You madman."
"No. Rumors say you're passionate about everything lately……."
"So what."
Kreto chuckled like an old man.
"That's good, but why would Professor Deculein be smitten with you."
"Evidence?"
"Come on. Right? What does the professor lack to……."
Then Kreto realized his mistake. Sophien's gaze sharpened murderously. He gulped and twisted his words.
"Wise and benevolent—"
"You mad? Emperor a joke?"
Knock knock—
Perfect timing.
A lifeline.
"What is it!"
Kreto shouted, and the maid outside said,
> "Yes, Your Majesty Sophien. Grand Prince Kreto. Professor Deculein, magic instructor, has arrived."
Magic lesson day today. Why Kreto insisted on seeing Sophien.
"Hm. Perfect. Your Majesty. Just ask him directly?"
"Directly? Me?"
Sophien pointed to her chest. Kreto narrowed his eyes and smirked.
"……Yes. I'll do it."
"Hmph. Fine. Hey! Send him in!"
—Yes, Your Majesty.
The door opened at Sophien's call. Deculein stood beyond.
In navy suit, he approached gracefully and sat facing Sophien.
"Your Majesty. And Grand Prince is here too."
"Heh heh. Ended up like this……."
Sophien nodded at Kreto. Ask already.
……Said it was fine moments ago.
Kreto opened the conversation first.
"Oh right. Professor Deculein. Ever played Go? Your Majesty and I are hooked lately."
"Yes. I have."
"Oh. Really?"
Kreto and Sophien both widened their eyes.
"Since Your Majesty recommended it, I trained diligently."
"What's your estimated rank? In Go, 'kyu' is the grade. Like Monarch, Lumiere. Top is 9-dan."
"I see."
"So, your estimated rank?"
Deculein looked at Sophien. She scanned his face. As always, serene, emotionless, handsome noble visage.
"I believe…… I can compete evenly with Your Majesty."
"?"
Sophien's brow furrowed sharply. First bafflement, then heat rising to her head.
The arrogant remark was absurd.
Grind…….
Gritting her teeth, Sophien forced a smile. No, her guts twisted more than her lips.
How dare he.
After a mere ten days of practice.
"……Then I cannot refuse."
Bang—!
Sophien's telekinesis slammed the Go stones and board down roughly.
"Let's play. If you beat me, I'll grant one wish."
A declaration to grant a wish. From the emperor above all.
Kreto was shocked, Deculein stared into space.
A quest alarm suddenly popped up.
Emperor's Wager
"……?"
'Independent' quest. From mere Go, not even a 'side' but 'independent' quest.
She thought an emperor's independent quest would be at least Devil's Mirror level…….
"Yes. Understood."
Somewhat flustered, Deculein soon nodded calmly.